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A. woams. BUFFER DEVICE. APPLFCATION FILED MAY25. 1917.

Patented Dec. 2,1919.

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A. E. NORRIS.

BUFFER DEVICE.

APPLICATION man m 25. 1911.

Patented Dec. 2

1919. a sums-sum 2.

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A. .ELNORRIS. sums DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1911.

Patented Dec. 2,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- wi d ALMON E. ivonnis, on CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of LettersPatentn BUFFER nnvrcn.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Original application ,filed. Septenibrii, 1911, Serial No. 648,278. Patent No. 1,238,184, dated August 28, 1917. Divided and this application fil ed May '25, 1917; Serial No. 170,851.

To all widom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, ALMoNiE. NoRRIs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and. a resident of Cambridge, county'of Middlesex, State ofMassachusetts, (whose post-oflice address is 31 Main street, Oambridgeport, Massachusetts,) have invented an Improvement in Buffer Devices, of which the following description, inconnectionwithrthe accompanytrackway ing drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to buffer devices for moving vehicles, being morelparticularly though not exclusively intended for the purpose-of bringing to rest a movable trolley carriage on an elevated trackway.

I This application is a division of my'prior copending application Serial No. 648,278, filedSeptember 8, 1911, now patent 1,238,- 184, issuedAug. 28, 1917.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the-following description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying illustration of one 'specific embodiment thereof, while its scopewill be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings: 1 V

Figure 1 is an elevation partly. broken away showingoneend of an elevated trackway equippedwith one' embodiment of the invention I Fig. 2 shows theboom at the end of the Fig. ,3 shows the relation of the boom to an adjacent buffer; i

Fig. 4 is a plan of the buffer or bumper mechanism employed in connection with the trolley carriage;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation'ofthe bumper; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation ofwthe same. While the invention may have extensive application to other uses, I have herein for the purposes of illustration shown the same applied and particularly adapted to. an elevated trackway represented at 1 (Figs. 1

and 2) sustained by amovable bridge strucand sustaining the clam shell bucket 6 controlledby suitableand usual operating ropes, the details of which it is hereunnecessary to describe.

I have herein shown an improved device for bringing the trolley to rest at the end of the trackway, such device being capable of bringing the trolley toa full stop under a considerable momentum without excessive shock, while at the same time leaving the trolley released and free for movement in a reverse direction. Referring to the drawings at the terminus of the trackway 1 a buffer frame is provided consisting of side members 7 (Figs. 4: to 6) connected by cross pieces 8. The side members have T rails 9 secured to their lower edges and held substantially parallel with but above the rails 1, the truck wheels being adapted, to contact with the broad, depending faces of the T rails when the trolley reaches the bufler. These partsconstitute a rigid rectangular frame which is suspended 'at its two rear corners by the links 10 pivoted at 11 on the fixed uprights 12 attached to the bridge structure 2. The two forward corners of the frame are suspended'upon links 13 pivoted at lt to brackets secured to the fixed cross beam 15. The bolts '16 which connect the members 7 to the links 13 work each in a slot :17 in its link so that the frame is capable of being lifted slightly at its front end relatively to the links 13 as represented in the full line position of Fig. 6. The bolts 16 also serve pivotally to secure to the side members 7 a spring block 18 between which mentof the pins 16 in the slots 17 As the trolley wheel advances beneath the buffer frame,however, the friction of the latter against the wheel increases, the springs 20 exerting an increasing leverage as thewheel moves toward the position y. This increased braking effect quickly brings the trolley to rest before: the wheel reaches the position y.

"frame toward the forward position shown back beyond the rear or full line position by the stops 21. The frame is free, however, to be moved in the opposite direction and any reverse movement thereof tends to swing the in dotted lines, thereby lifting the frame and immediately relieving the pressure against the wheels.

In Fig. 1 a bufierof the type described is indicated at the inward end of the bridge or trackway. A bridge of this type is ordinarily constructed to overhang thematerial intended to be conveyed. Where it is utilized for unloading coal from boats, it is ordinarily equipped witha boom overhanging the water. Such boom can be raised out of the way, but when lowered serves to form a continuation of the trackwayso that the trolley can be brought directly over the hold of the vessel from which the coal is to be taken.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown the opposite or outer end of the bridge having the boom 22 adapted to be raised or lowered as indicated, the outer or extreme end of the boom being also equipped with the buffer of the type described, so that the trolley can be brought to the extreme end of the boom without danger.

a In order to prevent the accidental overtravel of the trolley when the boom is raised, I also preferably employ a buffer at the end of the fixed trackway on the inside of the boom so that when the boom is lifted such buffer will prevent the travel of the trolley beyond that point. As the buffer should not interfere with the travel of the trolley when the boom is lowered, I have also provided means whereby the buffer is automatically moved out of the way of the trolley by the act of lowering the boom. 7

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the links 23 which support the outer end of the buffer are prolonged and provided with a pin 2% which works in a slot 25 in the end of the link 26. The latter is secured to a bracket 27 on the end of the boom 22 so thatwhen the boom is lowered the link 26 engages the pin 2i at the end of the slot and swings the buffer frame up to the dotted line position indicated where it is entirely clear of the trolley carriage wheels'and the trolley carriage. On the other hand, when theboom is lifted, as shown in the full line position in Fig. 3, the binder frame is dropped to its normal or efiective position, the pin 24f having sufiicientplay inthe slot 25 to allow the necessary swinging movement of the frame.

While I have hereinshown and described for purposes of illustration one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the'same as to many of its features is applicable to hoisting and conveying apparatus of widely different description from that herein illustrated, and to uses other than in connection with trolley carriages for hoisting and conveying systems. It is also to be understood that extensive deviations may be made from the details of construction and r from the relative arrangement of parts without departing from thespirit of this invent1on.y

Claims: 7 J a 1. In a hoisting and conveying apparatus,

the combination with'an elevated trackway, of a trolleyand artrolley buffer, the latter comprising a buffer frame adapted: to engage and checkthe movement of the trolley wheels, links suspending said frame, means .forolng' the trolley. receiving end of said frame, toward the trolley, wheels, .the .[suspension ofthe frame being suchas to relieve a the pressure on reverse trolley. V

2. ,Thecombination with a'trackway of a bufier frame, suspension links for said frame, the latter being movable vertically in the suspensio links at the trolley receiving end of the frame and resilient means normally pressing said forward end toward awheel engaging position.

3. The combination with a trackway of, a buffer frame, means suspending thesame movement: of the over the trackway providing a compound longitudinal anddepression movement on engagement therewith'by a wheeled truck, and means yieldingly pressing the truck receiving end of the frame inthe suspension means toward the trackway.

4. The combination of a trackway of a buffer member suspended above thetrackway, said member being yieldablypressed toward the trackway at its truck receiving end and the buffer support providingfor a longitudinal and verticalmovem'ent thereof when engaged by a truck. i

5. The combination :with an elevated trackway, of a trolley and a trolleyibufier,

the latter being adapted to engage and check the movement of the trolley wheels but yieldable to relieve the checking pressure onreverse movementof' the trolley.

6. The combination with abridge havinga boom and a trackway, of a trolley carriage, a 7

buffer at the outer end ofthe'fixed'trackway, and means dependent on the movement of the boom for. rendering said buffer ineffective. V

7 The combination with a bridge having a boom and atrackway, of a trolley carriage, a buffer at the outer end of the fixed trackway, and means dependent on the movement of the boom for rendering said buffer effective.

ALMON E; NORRIS. 

